Analysis of Selected Methodological Characteristics of Research Studies in the Journal Sociální práce / Sociálna práca (Czech and Slovak Social Work) for the Period 2002–2019

Angela Almasiova, Katarina Kohutova, Rastislav Rosinsky

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the paper is to analyse empirical states and their methodological characteristics in the journal Sociální práce / Sociálna práca for the period from the beginning of the journal – from 2002 to 2019. THEORETICAL BASE: In foreign literature we can find several content analyses focused on the research of journals in the field of social work. The journal has not yet undergone such an analysis. METHODS: Quantitative content analysis was used as a research technique, and categories describing the methodological characteristics of the research were created. The obtained data were evaluated by descriptive statistics. OUTCOMES: The main findings include: in research studies, qualitative research prevailed over quantitative research; in quantitative studies, the deliberate method of selecting the research set prevailed, and in qualitative criteria, the method of selection was predominant; information on the psychometric characteristics of the research tool was almost non-existent in research studies, and in the way of processing and interpretation it prevailed in qualitative verbal studies without creating categories, and in quantitative studies descriptive and inferential statistics. SOCIAL WORK IMPICATIONS: The results of the analysis can contribute to improving the implementation of empirical studies by eliminating the identified shortcomings.

Keywords
quantitative content analysis, methodological characteristics of the research, research studies, evidence-based practice

p. 130-152